3. "The Rock" © vs. Faarooq: In Your House 22 - Over The Edge 1998
Results: The Rock- with his feet on the ropes- rolled up Faarooq for the pinfall victory at 5:07.
Highlight: I take some weird comfort in knowing that there is a Rock match where you can say, "Hey, he reminds me of Mikey Whipwreck! Wrestling with a neckbrace and winning without scoring than a couple offensive maneuvers."
Lowlight: Faarooq- such a hated heel for his WWF career up to that point- gets out-cheered in his first babyface match by wrestlers not in the match.
Review: After a Disciples of Apocalypse vs Legion of Doom 2000 opening contest, Intercontinental Champion The Rock came out early to insult the crowd in Milwaukee. His former stablemate in the Nation of Domination, Faarooq, ambushed the champ with a chair, eventually piledriving him onto the steel. Despite the vicious assault, WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter forced Rock to defend his title later in the evening, which he did while donning a neckbrace. The match was 90% Faarooq's, who delivered a quick beatdown, culminating in a big spinebuster. Rock managed to get his foot on the ropes, and- while Faarooq complained to the referee- Rock revived the heel "scoop the legs/feet on the ropes" move to cap off a disappointing battle of the Nation of Domination's leaders. Post-match, Faarooq hits another pair of piledrivers before DX and the Nation fought, which got the biggest reaction of the contest.
How it could have been better: If Faarooq was going to destroy The Rock, have him destroy him, giving the Rock a DQ-victory when Faarooq refused to stop. At the time, Rocky was always winning or losing because of count-outs and DQs; it made him a great chicken-s**t heel champion.